In the States, I rarely eat ice cream. So far, I've had it twice since I've been here. Bad, I know. But today's was totally worth it.
Let me start by saying that yesterday ( I think. It might have been yesterday to me but Saturday to him) my friend Russel wrote on my Facebook wall. He gave me two challenges: visit a lot of different churches and let him know how God is moving in Spain, and to find out if they cook with peanuts or peanut oil (he's deathly allergic and doesn't want to die if he visits here). I'm still working on the peanut deal, but I definitely saw God moving today.
Back to the ice cream. I ducked into the shop and asked the man to let me try the mango flavor (it's no good, just a head's up), and he asked if I was American. He thought I could have been British, but wanted to make sure. We talked about how many Americans come here to study Spanish, how they come from all over, yada yada. He couldn't believe I study Spanish in the States. He wanted to know if I was going to make money from that, and I said I didn't know. I told him about my trips to Honduras and how Spanish is my passion, that I want to communicate with more people.
The whole time this is happening, he's giving me more samples. As soon as I mention Honduras, he looks me dead in the eyes and says "eres Protestante?" I nodded and he just looked at me. Then he said it was so interesting how much more the Protestant churches were doing in poorer countries to help people than the Catholic church. He used to be Catholic, but since then has become a little Catholic and mostly Protestant. He doesn't go to a church...because they are so divided. We talked about how there is a difference in a church and the people and how sad it is that there is such dissension about such small things. It turned him off of going to a church, so he worships individually, plus there are very few Protestant churches here in Spain.
I don't know where else our conversation would have gone because a lady and her small child came in. He smiled at me and said it was nice to talk with me, and that he hopes I return before I leave Madrid. Isn't funny how Russel asked me to go to a church to see God move but I didn't even have to do that to find Him? I'm so glad I got ice cream today.
Class started today. We begin at 9, have a break from 10:30 to 11, then finish at 12:30. I'm taking a film course, so today we studied the beginnings of film in Spain and watched the first few films made here. It's really interesting and I've studied some of it before, but some people in the class don't know Spanish so I get a little frustrated having to repeat things in English. Whatever.
Sara and I ate lunch in the Parque again today. We just can't stay away! We found the crystal palace today, which literally took my breath away, and then walked through a fenced off garden on a whim. Best. Idea. Ever. THERE WERE PEACOCKS EVERYWHERE, walking around like they owned the place! It was magnificent. Some of the males spread their feathers out and made really strange calls. It was awesome. I couldn't stop taking pictures of them.
Newest development in the Casa de Paloma: it's down to just me and Sara in the house! Our other roomie went to a new house because she originally wanted a single room and things just weren't working out, and the other two ladies left. Paloma got real sassy with them when they left and said that their new house will be better than this one (it won't) and that the breakfast will be better too (it won't). Poor Paloma. She was so glad to be rid of them. She came in our room immediately after and said "que liberacion!" what a relief! Sara and I are taking her out to her favorite pizza place on Wednesday. We love her. We love Spain.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
el parque del buen retiro
In Madrid, Sundays are beautiful. I mean, each day is beautiful but today was especially lovely outside. After a rough night with less than two hours of sleep, due to circumstances out of our control, Sara and I needed to get away from the apartment. We decided to look like tourists with Nike shorts, yoga pants, and t shirts and pass some time in El Parque del Buen Retiro. One entrance is just a few blocks from Paloma's house, so our tired and sore bodies didn't complain that badly.
Once we entered the park, we both immediately felt peace. Sara and I walked for an hour or more, unintentionally, watching all of the interesting people and seeing all of the monuments and small attractions in the park. I don't think words do this place justice. First of all, it's humongous, 350 acres. Second of all, it's ancient, built in its original form in 1505 during the reign of Isabella I. It's been changed a lot since then, obviously, but wasn't open to the public until the 1700's. There's a huge lake, el Estanque del Retiro, and you can rent paddle boats or bring your kayak or whatever and row all day. There are roundabouts in the walkways and people roller blade there. It's kind of like an ice skating rink but with roller blades! There are yoga classes and work out areas and people running and walking every which way. Until the 10th or so of June, there's a feria de libros, which is just a huge walkway lined with kiosks of bookshops from all over the city.
Sara and I sat for about an hour and just watched for a while. There are so many children...most of them had like bikes, and if they were too young to actually bike, they had bike bodies without pedals and just ran while sitting on the bike. Precious. There are couples everywhere; Spain is big on PDA. Even the old couples hold hands and kiss each other everywhere in Madrid. It's sweet, but sometimes to much.
I think that's been the lesson I've seen the most today: adjusting to the culture is key. You have to get used to seeing couples be all over each other. You have to be aware of the customs and rules of the house you're staying in. Food is different here than America. But that's why you're here, to learn about a different culture and immerse yourself in their lifestyle and language. The older lady students staying with us here at Paloma's don't understand that. They had a big falling out with Paloma at dinner about how they didn't think breakfast was suitable, and Paloma went off on all of the things they do that offend her or that are just wrong here that she doesn't mention because she knows we don't understand. It was horrific, mostly because those two ladies don't speak Spanish and Paloma doesn't speak English...so I was stuck in the middle translating. The two students were being very rude and telling at me to yell at Paloma and they kept interrupting just to say what they wanted. Horrible. I don't think they are going to stay here anymore.
Funny how such bad and stressful things can happen, but God blesses me with a beautiful morning in the most amazing park I've ever seen. Whose name literally means "the park of good retreat." Thank goodness.
Once we entered the park, we both immediately felt peace. Sara and I walked for an hour or more, unintentionally, watching all of the interesting people and seeing all of the monuments and small attractions in the park. I don't think words do this place justice. First of all, it's humongous, 350 acres. Second of all, it's ancient, built in its original form in 1505 during the reign of Isabella I. It's been changed a lot since then, obviously, but wasn't open to the public until the 1700's. There's a huge lake, el Estanque del Retiro, and you can rent paddle boats or bring your kayak or whatever and row all day. There are roundabouts in the walkways and people roller blade there. It's kind of like an ice skating rink but with roller blades! There are yoga classes and work out areas and people running and walking every which way. Until the 10th or so of June, there's a feria de libros, which is just a huge walkway lined with kiosks of bookshops from all over the city.
Sara and I sat for about an hour and just watched for a while. There are so many children...most of them had like bikes, and if they were too young to actually bike, they had bike bodies without pedals and just ran while sitting on the bike. Precious. There are couples everywhere; Spain is big on PDA. Even the old couples hold hands and kiss each other everywhere in Madrid. It's sweet, but sometimes to much.
I think that's been the lesson I've seen the most today: adjusting to the culture is key. You have to get used to seeing couples be all over each other. You have to be aware of the customs and rules of the house you're staying in. Food is different here than America. But that's why you're here, to learn about a different culture and immerse yourself in their lifestyle and language. The older lady students staying with us here at Paloma's don't understand that. They had a big falling out with Paloma at dinner about how they didn't think breakfast was suitable, and Paloma went off on all of the things they do that offend her or that are just wrong here that she doesn't mention because she knows we don't understand. It was horrific, mostly because those two ladies don't speak Spanish and Paloma doesn't speak English...so I was stuck in the middle translating. The two students were being very rude and telling at me to yell at Paloma and they kept interrupting just to say what they wanted. Horrible. I don't think they are going to stay here anymore.
Funny how such bad and stressful things can happen, but God blesses me with a beautiful morning in the most amazing park I've ever seen. Whose name literally means "the park of good retreat." Thank goodness.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
holy toledo, batman!
Toledo, you are more beautiful than I expected. I swear I walked around today with my jaw dropped in amazement, snapping pictures of everything, and looking just as much like a tourist as the Asian families on vacation. Know what? Don't even care.
Before we met up with the group and took a bus to Toledo (about an hour from Madrid), a bird managed to drop a little surprise right on my bag. Bird poop here is waaay more disgusting here than in the States. Just a heads up.
When we got to Toledo, we stopped for a few minutes at an overlook of the city that seriously resembled the painting by El Greco. I was absolutely amazed by it. The architecture in that city is a mixture of influence from the Romans, the Visigoths, and the Arabs. I know it sounds kind of strange, but it is just incredible. The first place we visited was the Catedral Primada. I've never been in a cathedral before, but I think this one was a good one to start off with. Even though I didn't understand all of the relics and rooms and customs of the Catholic church, it was still beautiful and so easy to appreciate the art in that building. One room was filled with paintings by El Greco (seriously, Wikipedia him if you haven't already. I'm kind of a nerd, so I don't want to type out everything I know about him and bore you to death...) so of course I was terribly excited. The professor I toured with, Ester, told us so much about the cathedral that my head was spinning!
Stop number two was possibly my favorite: "El entierro del Conde de orgaz" IN REAL LIFE. Also, right underneath it, is El Greco's grave IN REAL LIFE. Everything I've studied for the past six years is suddenly right here at my feet. The painting depicts the burial of a count with God and the angels waiting above for him, basically. El Greco likes to paint his face in his own paintings, and he is an onlooker in this one. His son is also in the painting as another onlooker. There are so many other little symbols in the painting that I've studied many times but I couldn't remember because I was so overwhelmed!
After touring with El Greco, we had some free time. My roommate Sara and two of our friends Joy and Cecilia explored Toledo, bought some postcards, and I found some gifts in a precious little shop with a precious old man as it's owner. He told me everything was 30% off, but he gave me a bigger discount because I talked to him so much. He said that Reed must be handsome to be with a girl as
beautiful as me. Duh :)
Next stop: a synagogue. The history of Jews in Spain is more interesting than this museum. It was pretty in it's own way, but they no longer worship in the Museo Sefardi Sinagoga de El Transito so it kind of lost itself on me. ( I just love knowing that people still worship in these centuries old buildings.) there were lots of artifacts, like a chair mothers would sit in to hold their child during circumcision and the knife they used...gross.
After that, we visited el Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes. This monastery is a large, hermoso building with a garden smack in the middle. The ground level and second level overlook the garden and are decorated with sculptures on the walls, in the corners, and everywhere else. The ceilings are wooden and painted with symbols and different representations of el Rey Fernando y la Reina Isabel. The two were from different countries (at that time during the 15th century) and with their marriage joined Aragon (Ferdinand) and Castilla y Leon (Isabel). The two were supposed to be buried there, but instead they are in Granada.
Whew! We finally started going back to the bus and stopped for some photo ops on the Puente de San Martin, which was awesome, of course. Now that I'm back in Madrid, trying to keep my eyes from closing and my legs from falling off (we walked A TON), I still can't believe some of the things I saw and experienced today. Four weeks is a long time...I got kind of homesick and wished for someone here who really knows me, but it is so, so worth it.
Sorry for the book. I don't want to forget anything when I go back and read this in July! Also, sorry for the lack of photos; I don't have a way to upload them to the IPad. Newb. I know.
Before we met up with the group and took a bus to Toledo (about an hour from Madrid), a bird managed to drop a little surprise right on my bag. Bird poop here is waaay more disgusting here than in the States. Just a heads up.
When we got to Toledo, we stopped for a few minutes at an overlook of the city that seriously resembled the painting by El Greco. I was absolutely amazed by it. The architecture in that city is a mixture of influence from the Romans, the Visigoths, and the Arabs. I know it sounds kind of strange, but it is just incredible. The first place we visited was the Catedral Primada. I've never been in a cathedral before, but I think this one was a good one to start off with. Even though I didn't understand all of the relics and rooms and customs of the Catholic church, it was still beautiful and so easy to appreciate the art in that building. One room was filled with paintings by El Greco (seriously, Wikipedia him if you haven't already. I'm kind of a nerd, so I don't want to type out everything I know about him and bore you to death...) so of course I was terribly excited. The professor I toured with, Ester, told us so much about the cathedral that my head was spinning!
Stop number two was possibly my favorite: "El entierro del Conde de orgaz" IN REAL LIFE. Also, right underneath it, is El Greco's grave IN REAL LIFE. Everything I've studied for the past six years is suddenly right here at my feet. The painting depicts the burial of a count with God and the angels waiting above for him, basically. El Greco likes to paint his face in his own paintings, and he is an onlooker in this one. His son is also in the painting as another onlooker. There are so many other little symbols in the painting that I've studied many times but I couldn't remember because I was so overwhelmed!
After touring with El Greco, we had some free time. My roommate Sara and two of our friends Joy and Cecilia explored Toledo, bought some postcards, and I found some gifts in a precious little shop with a precious old man as it's owner. He told me everything was 30% off, but he gave me a bigger discount because I talked to him so much. He said that Reed must be handsome to be with a girl as
beautiful as me. Duh :)
Next stop: a synagogue. The history of Jews in Spain is more interesting than this museum. It was pretty in it's own way, but they no longer worship in the Museo Sefardi Sinagoga de El Transito so it kind of lost itself on me. ( I just love knowing that people still worship in these centuries old buildings.) there were lots of artifacts, like a chair mothers would sit in to hold their child during circumcision and the knife they used...gross.
After that, we visited el Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes. This monastery is a large, hermoso building with a garden smack in the middle. The ground level and second level overlook the garden and are decorated with sculptures on the walls, in the corners, and everywhere else. The ceilings are wooden and painted with symbols and different representations of el Rey Fernando y la Reina Isabel. The two were from different countries (at that time during the 15th century) and with their marriage joined Aragon (Ferdinand) and Castilla y Leon (Isabel). The two were supposed to be buried there, but instead they are in Granada.
Whew! We finally started going back to the bus and stopped for some photo ops on the Puente de San Martin, which was awesome, of course. Now that I'm back in Madrid, trying to keep my eyes from closing and my legs from falling off (we walked A TON), I still can't believe some of the things I saw and experienced today. Four weeks is a long time...I got kind of homesick and wished for someone here who really knows me, but it is so, so worth it.
Sorry for the book. I don't want to forget anything when I go back and read this in July! Also, sorry for the lack of photos; I don't have a way to upload them to the IPad. Newb. I know.
Friday, May 25, 2012
day número dos
Paloma, our house mother, walked us to school this morning (she had business to attend to there) where we all took a monster Spanish placement test. The university is beautiful and is situated in a normal building on a quiet but centrally located street, calle Lagasca. While we were at the school, more Americans in our group complained about their living situations and lack of wifi than I ever care to hear again. Yes, they eat loads of ham here. Chances are it'll be on your sandwich for every lunch your hostess packs you. Yes, you should make your bed every morning. Yes, you should just suck it up... You chose to come study abroad. How are you going to complain about the culture? Immerse yourself and get over it. Rant complete.
We took a tour of Madrid de las Austrias today, complete with viewings of the Palacio Real, the Plaza Mayor, and lots and LOTS of fans here for the Real Madrid/Bilbao alumni soccer game. I literally saw an ooollllddd man take his pants off to show his friends what he had decorated himself with in honor of the game. Mind you he was completely white headed and this is not even a really real game.
Spaniards have so much passion. Whether it's for futbol, la universidad, la familia, or the shoes they sell, they are passionate about it. They also love hearing our broken Spanish and finding out why exactly we are here, for how long, and where we're visiting tomorrow. I might go visit the shop I bought my (new, much needed, much more supportive, much more comfortable) sandals from today some other time because the man there was just that nice.
Favorite things from today:
The strange, but expected ham sandwiches Paloma packed for our lunches. One looked like salami and one tasted like bologna. I ate all the bologna and then the best banana I've ever had.
Chocolate ice cream from a tiny little shop.
Riding the clean and super smooth Metro.
The feeling I got standing in the Plaza Mayor...the things I've read about and seen pictures of are REAL, y'all. I thought I was going to pass out or pee myself or both.
Hearing Paloma's stories at dinner. We talked about the guerra civil and her family being torn apart, how she never felt the oppression from having Franco as a dictator, and how important the guardia civil is to the people of Spain.
Nothing beats hearing and seeing history with real Spaniards while eating two different kinds of ham.
We took a tour of Madrid de las Austrias today, complete with viewings of the Palacio Real, the Plaza Mayor, and lots and LOTS of fans here for the Real Madrid/Bilbao alumni soccer game. I literally saw an ooollllddd man take his pants off to show his friends what he had decorated himself with in honor of the game. Mind you he was completely white headed and this is not even a really real game.
Spaniards have so much passion. Whether it's for futbol, la universidad, la familia, or the shoes they sell, they are passionate about it. They also love hearing our broken Spanish and finding out why exactly we are here, for how long, and where we're visiting tomorrow. I might go visit the shop I bought my (new, much needed, much more supportive, much more comfortable) sandals from today some other time because the man there was just that nice.
Favorite things from today:
The strange, but expected ham sandwiches Paloma packed for our lunches. One looked like salami and one tasted like bologna. I ate all the bologna and then the best banana I've ever had.
Chocolate ice cream from a tiny little shop.
Riding the clean and super smooth Metro.
The feeling I got standing in the Plaza Mayor...the things I've read about and seen pictures of are REAL, y'all. I thought I was going to pass out or pee myself or both.
Hearing Paloma's stories at dinner. We talked about the guerra civil and her family being torn apart, how she never felt the oppression from having Franco as a dictator, and how important the guardia civil is to the people of Spain.
Nothing beats hearing and seeing history with real Spaniards while eating two different kinds of ham.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
madrid lovin'
It was strange this morning getting on a plane knowing I wasn't going to Honduras. It was equally strange landing in Madrid and not having to pray the pilot would step on the brakes so we wouldn't run out of runway like they do in Tegucigalpa.
Strange that two very small children wanted to play peek-a-boo with me on the 8 hour flight instead of watch a movie or sleep.
Strange seeing another stamp in my passport, not having to fill out a customs form, and not having to go through a security check when landing in Madrid.
Strange that I'm exhausted but can't sleep so that I avoid jet lag.
Awesome that I'm here and not even homesick yet. Our house mom, Paloma, is so sweet. There are 3 of us, her, her son, his girlfriend, and two students with a different program. We're in a flat that Paloma is really proud of. It's two flats put together and she says that everyone is wowed when they walk in. It's beautifully decorated and quite spacious for a flat. She has valet parking and the smallest elevator I've ever been in. We're a minute or two walk away from the Metro station, but the university is only about a 10 minute walk...through the Parque del Retiro, the gorgeous park in the heart of Spain. SO PUMPED.
It's 1pm here (6am at home?) so Paloma is about to feed us and then set us free to "organize" and nap. I want to explore, but I'm so tired. Maybe my blogging will be more clever when I'm fully aware of what's going on around me.
Strange that two very small children wanted to play peek-a-boo with me on the 8 hour flight instead of watch a movie or sleep.
Strange seeing another stamp in my passport, not having to fill out a customs form, and not having to go through a security check when landing in Madrid.
Strange that I'm exhausted but can't sleep so that I avoid jet lag.
Awesome that I'm here and not even homesick yet. Our house mom, Paloma, is so sweet. There are 3 of us, her, her son, his girlfriend, and two students with a different program. We're in a flat that Paloma is really proud of. It's two flats put together and she says that everyone is wowed when they walk in. It's beautifully decorated and quite spacious for a flat. She has valet parking and the smallest elevator I've ever been in. We're a minute or two walk away from the Metro station, but the university is only about a 10 minute walk...through the Parque del Retiro, the gorgeous park in the heart of Spain. SO PUMPED.
It's 1pm here (6am at home?) so Paloma is about to feed us and then set us free to "organize" and nap. I want to explore, but I'm so tired. Maybe my blogging will be more clever when I'm fully aware of what's going on around me.
Friday, May 18, 2012
who's a slacker?
...this girl.
It's been almost a month. I don't know why, except that life has just zoomed by. I broke my finger, finals nearly killed me, I went to Mobile for Reed's interview, had to go to the finger-doctor, drove to Huntsvegas and back in one day for AM and Michael's pinning ceremony, Sarah and Will got married, and Reed graduated. All. In. One. Week.
I have since then recouped. My finger is in a splint, I got to see my family for longer than 12 hours, and I've been able to begin preparing for the two HUGE blessings God has put into my life.
One: I leave for Spain on Wednesday. For four (4) weeks. Half of the time, I am embarrassingly excited about only speaking Spanish and being in Spain and gallivanting across Europe to Paris, Italy, and (hopefully) Austria. The other half, I am embarrassingly worried about being homesick or unhappy. Not necessarily for "home" or even the US, for that matter, but for my people. And Piper. And I'm worried about how different this trip will be from my Honduras trips. Obviously, I know it'll be different...Spain is a developed country and very similar to the US. But my orthopedist went off during my visit a couple of weeks ago about how much suffering there is in Spain because the unemployment rate has recently increased. "Um, HELLO, Honduras," was my first thought, then I wanted to kick myself. Yes, there's more suffering in Honduras, but I am praying that the Lord helps me see the suffering in Spain just like I pray that he helps me see the suffering here in America.
Two: I return from Europe June 25th. I'm throwing a shower for Anne Marie on June 30, and I begin interning at the Auburn Christian Student Center on July 2! I can't believe this, still, and it's officially official. God has been so gracious to me lately. Of course, he's always gracious, but I think I am more aware of it now. Maybe I'm growing up? I don't have much to say about it now, but as soon as July comes around I'm sure it'll consume my life. In a good way.
It's been almost a month. I don't know why, except that life has just zoomed by. I broke my finger, finals nearly killed me, I went to Mobile for Reed's interview, had to go to the finger-doctor, drove to Huntsvegas and back in one day for AM and Michael's pinning ceremony, Sarah and Will got married, and Reed graduated. All. In. One. Week.
I have since then recouped. My finger is in a splint, I got to see my family for longer than 12 hours, and I've been able to begin preparing for the two HUGE blessings God has put into my life.
One: I leave for Spain on Wednesday. For four (4) weeks. Half of the time, I am embarrassingly excited about only speaking Spanish and being in Spain and gallivanting across Europe to Paris, Italy, and (hopefully) Austria. The other half, I am embarrassingly worried about being homesick or unhappy. Not necessarily for "home" or even the US, for that matter, but for my people. And Piper. And I'm worried about how different this trip will be from my Honduras trips. Obviously, I know it'll be different...Spain is a developed country and very similar to the US. But my orthopedist went off during my visit a couple of weeks ago about how much suffering there is in Spain because the unemployment rate has recently increased. "Um, HELLO, Honduras," was my first thought, then I wanted to kick myself. Yes, there's more suffering in Honduras, but I am praying that the Lord helps me see the suffering in Spain just like I pray that he helps me see the suffering here in America.
Two: I return from Europe June 25th. I'm throwing a shower for Anne Marie on June 30, and I begin interning at the Auburn Christian Student Center on July 2! I can't believe this, still, and it's officially official. God has been so gracious to me lately. Of course, he's always gracious, but I think I am more aware of it now. Maybe I'm growing up? I don't have much to say about it now, but as soon as July comes around I'm sure it'll consume my life. In a good way.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
coffe and seryn
Mission Lazarus (Seth Daggett) released their new video about their unique coffee process in Honduras today.
http://vimeo.com/40106764
It makes my heart ache to be there. I've only had the opportunity to visit the coffee plantation once, but it was an experience I will never forget. Mostly because it involved my first horse ride and it lasted at least 4 hours, but also because the people that run the plantation are so beautiful. They love what they do and they are so good at it. It's the best coffee I've ever had. And it's from my favorite place!
On another note, I've fallen in love with Seryn, the band whose music is featured in the above video. Their website can be found here. Listen to them. They will soothe your soul. Especially "On My Knees."
Everyone is growing up. I posted pictures from my sister's first wedding shower Sunday. I'm about to post pictures from Reed's grad devo, and before I know it I'll have pictures from both of their graduations. What the what?!
http://vimeo.com/40106764
It makes my heart ache to be there. I've only had the opportunity to visit the coffee plantation once, but it was an experience I will never forget. Mostly because it involved my first horse ride and it lasted at least 4 hours, but also because the people that run the plantation are so beautiful. They love what they do and they are so good at it. It's the best coffee I've ever had. And it's from my favorite place!
On another note, I've fallen in love with Seryn, the band whose music is featured in the above video. Their website can be found here. Listen to them. They will soothe your soul. Especially "On My Knees."
Everyone is growing up. I posted pictures from my sister's first wedding shower Sunday. I'm about to post pictures from Reed's grad devo, and before I know it I'll have pictures from both of their graduations. What the what?!
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